The Big Ten commissioner, a South Orange native and North Carolina graduate, knows full well the value of the D.C.-to-Boston corridor, whose epicenter is New York.

"Anyone who forgets that forgets at their peril," Delany told The Post in a telephone interview. "It's the center, it has been the center of media activity for a hundred years. It's the center of financial activity and it has been that way for 150 years. To me it's sort of where a lot of things start in the county."

Delaney also stressed that the league is sticking to its 12- to 18-month timetable for studying expansion. The Post speculates about possible teams, and the usual suspects -- including Syracuse -- are mentioned.

But the Big Ten's clock still is ticking, and FBS schools in the Boston (Boston College), New York (Rutgers and Syracuse) and Washington, D.C. (Maryland) markets prime properties. Should the Big East lose two members and/or the ACC lose Maryland, a charter member that is cash-strapped, it could reshape the Eastern seaboard.

Delone Carter ... Heisman candidate? The website Fanhouse looks at potential Heisman candidates from each conference, and Carter is listed as one of six "not-so-obvious candidates" from the conference. Here's what writer Brian Grummell says about Carter: The Syracuse brand conjures up a certain Heisman nostalgia. Its football brand, however, has been a disappointment of late. That said, the Orange were showing signs of competitiveness last year and look to be fielding a quality team for 2010, at least on defense. The one offensive bright light is Carter, who quietly ran for 1,021 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. If Syracuse shows any kind of life this year, it will be a major story in college football. When or if the press arrives, given the unsexy nature of defense, Carter could be the guy everyone directs their attention toward. If he can boost his totals from 1,000 yards to 1,500 or so, and mix in a few highlight runs, there may just be some Heisman discussion coming his way.